Thursday, October 4, 2012

Second Wind for PBL?

Will the Common Core State Standards create new opportunities for the authentic assessment that goes along with project-based learning? That's the hopeful conclusion of several administrators I interviewed for an article in this month's District Administration magazine. Check out "The Challenge of Assessing Project-Based Learning" to hear why school leaders think we're heading in a smarter direction when it comes to assessment. As one principal told me, "We pay attention to what we measure. If we can shift the measurement so
that students are better prepared and more engaged learners, then let’s
do it.”
Of course, there are many challenges ahead when it comes to developing the next generation of assessments. Breaking out of the bubble-test mentality isn't going to be easy. That's where the advance scouts for PBL can help lead the way, by sharing evidence of the deeper learning that comes with quality projects.

3 comments:

HelloIt is a pleasure to read your article in "District Administration." So refreshing to hear from someone who understands that PBL encompasses both immediate and long-term assessment. As a school library media specialist (33 years) I have played an integal role in helping teachers and students design and evaluate projects. I am not so sure that teachers have time to do all the legwork involved, to say nothing of teaching students how to evaluate and cite sources. Both types of information literacy (among others) are necessary as we strive to help our students become career and college-ready. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts.

Thanks, Candace. I wish more teachers would turn to their library/media specialists as PBL collaborators. As you wisely point out, information literacy skills are critically important yet too often overlooked.

I totally believe that PBL is the approach to making education relevant, exciting, and fun for both students and educators. I highly suggest taking a look at www.projectbasedlearning.com as a platform for group projects.

Events

RECENT EVENTS~Better with Practice~A three-part webinar on PBL implementation sponsored by Project Foundry.~Book Conversation with Jane and SuziePBL has new momentum~ISTE 2010~Here are links to our sessionsRECENT EVENTS~Educon~Watch our Learning that Sticks presentation at Educon2.1.~Teachers Teaching Teachers~Listen to the podcast on EdTech Talk about digital-age projects with hosts from Teachers Teaching Teachers and fellow guest Chris Lehmann.~ISTE in Second Life~Join our avatars in Second Life for a discussion with ISTE's Special Interest Group for Technology Coordinators.~Classroom 2.0 Conversation~Listen to our Classroom 2.0 discussion about Reinventing Project-Based Learning, moderated by Steve Hargadon on April 9.~Principal Leadership~What's the school leader's role in supporting projects? That's the topic of our article in Principal Leadership(Dec. 2007 issue). It's highlighted by the New Tech Foundation, which puts projects at the center of learning.~Meet Us at Tapped In~Tapped In Part 3 of our conversation about Web 2.0 Tools for Schools, held on Thurs., Nov. 15, from 5-6 p.m. (Pacific).~ISTE Webinar~Practical ideas about project-based learning for the digtal age. ISTE Webinar on Reinventing Project-Based Learning Wed., Oct. 24, 1 p.m. (Pacific).

Reviewers Weigh In!

"This is a journey that every educator needs to embark upon, and this highly readable road map is the perfect companion for the trip.”—Will Richardson, author of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms “I heartily recommend this newly published book to any and all educational technology practitioners. Authors Suzie Boss and Jane Krauss know PBL, how kids learn, and how to create meaningful learning environments for students.”—Lynne Wolters “This book by Jane Krauss and Suzie Boss is a gem.”—Vicki Davis, creator of Flat Classroom Project